Three AK 47 rifles, ammunition, handcuff, stolen

Agbozume (V/R), March 22, GNA - Three AK 47 rifles and three loaded magazines containing a total of 56 rounds of ammunition and a handcuff belonging to the Ghana Police Service have been reported missing at the Agbozume Police Station in the Ketu District since Saturday night. There is so far no clue as to who was behind the theft and their intensions, raising fears among the local community and Police personnel in the area, in view of the high level of gun related crimes in the country.

The Aflao District Command, the Keta Divisional Command and the Regional Police Command are knocking their heads together for a quick solution to unravel the secret behind the missing items.

Sergeant Thomas K. Agboada, in whose duty period the loss was detected is in custody at Aflao.

Two others, Inspector George Bedzra, Officer in charge of the station and the officer Sergeant Agboada relieved on the day of the loss are also being interrogated.

Preliminary investigations so far have yielded no results police sources said.

Briefing the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Mr Mohammed N.A. Adams Deputy Volta Regional Police Commander said Sergeant Agboada, 56, reported for night duty on Saturday March 19, this year and took charge of the guns two of which contained 20 rounds each of ammunition and the third, 15 rounds.

He said at about 0400 hours the following morning, Sergeant Stephen K. Kodjotsu arrived at the station to sign for a riffle and a handcuff for an arrest mission and detected that the unit in the charge office cabinet where the weapons were kept in the absence of a proper armoury was not under lock.

Mr Adams said upon closer examination, Sergeants Kodjotsu and Agboada detected that the weapons were not in place.

He said when his team arrived at the scene, Sergeant Agboada, who looked confused, was interrogated and admitted taking over the weapons when he reported for duty.

Mr Adams said he found the allegation by Agboada that a padlock to the drawer containing the weapon had been forced open as untrue. "Indications from the padlock showed that it got spoiled long before the day of the loss," he said.

The Deputy Commander said Police at barriers, on snap check points and mobile patrol units had since been ordered to comb everywhere including vehicles to arrest suspects.